#phcking deviants

[gatoradelord]

@just-a-phcking-deviant

[sunwarmed-ash]

Alright! here's just a lil snip from the behemoth chapter.

Convin, Mature, Smoking

The last few hours(days) have been nothing short of a metric shit-ton to process. Not just for the deviant android, but for the two healing, and grieving officers too. The men are each taking their own space in different parts of Hank’s house, processing the latest series of confessions.  

Gavin’s outside, sitting in one of the three deck chairs that still, somehow, 10+ years later, remembers the shape of his ass. He isn’t sure if that makes him feel comforted or weird. He didn't spend that much time out here. And how many storms has Detroit had in that time that his imprint should have been wiped clear from the shitty wicker set they got second hand in ‘29. 

It doesn't make any sense. Not at all…

He's so busy over-analyzing how he feels about patio furniture he doesn't hear Connor come outside let alone saddle up beside him. 

“Where's Hank?” 

“Jesus phcking Christ!” Gavin startles, dropping his lit cigarette on the concrete slab but thankfully he didn’t fall out of his chair. 

Connor apologizes with a smirk before picking up the now out, white and orange tobacco stick. He relights it with the tip of his finger, almost like he was a goddamn cigarette lighter in a car, and hands it back over to Gavin. 

Gavin takes it with a nod of thanks, still trying to get his heart rate under control. “He uh, he said he wants to cook a shepherd's pie tonight. He just left for the grocery store.” 

“Oh, okay,” Connor says, eyeing the chair to Gavin’s left. “May I join you?”

Gavin couldnt see a reason why not.

“Sure.” 

Connor sits in the second wicker chair beside him, seemingly content to sit in the silence until Gavin wants to talk. That lasts another 30 or so seconds before Connor turns 45 degrees in his chair and points a finger at the cancer stick between Gavin’s teeth. 

“Can I try?”

Gavin looks at Connor like he's grown a second head. Try it? Why? Could he even taste it? Gavin considers it for another second before shrugging. Whatever, Connor isn’t human, it’s not like he can get addicted. Gavin wouldn't wish this expensive, nasty habit on anyone.

Assuming it's harmless enough, he holds out the half smoked stick. 

“Knock yourself out. Well, not literally, If you don't mind. Once was enough.”

Connor smirks before arm bumping Gavin. His long fingers reach out for the stick. He takes it between two fingers, the same way he’s seen Gavin do. Connor looks it over once more before lifting the stick to his lips and taking a mirrored pull.

Gavin swallows hard. Goddamn. Why does this phckin prick have to look so good doing literally everything? He crosses his leg over his knee before Connor can spot the way his dick is now reacting to such a mundane action. 

Gavin isn’t sure where the smoke goes when Connor inhales, but it's more than obvious every single part of his body disagreed with Connor’s choice. His pretty face twists up tight like he ate something sour, his mouth makes a strange cough/static sound as smoke plumes out of his lips and into the air, and he's shoving the lit stick away from himself and back to Gavin with a rapid shake of his head. 

“Yeah?” Gavin can’t help but laugh, taking the cigarette back before Connor’s hand drops it, “Whatcha think?” 

“Gavin that was fucking horrible! I don’t think any of my systems enjoyed that!”

Gavin laughs hard, so hard it makes his already inflamed lungs more pissed and it takes him a few minutes before he can fluidly take air into his lungs.

“I thought you couldn't taste things!”

“I can’t eat. I can taste when I want just fine, and now I’m curious what's wrong with your sense of taste to actively want to consume those!”

Gavin snorts, taking a drag and ashing on the pavement. 

“It's not about the taste,” Gavin explains, “Well, I guess sometimes I guess it can be. But mostly it's the nicotine hit and the ten minutes alone.” 

Gavin sees the moment Connor misinterprets his words and stops the android before he can move more than an inch. “Wasn't trying to get rid of you. Just the honest answer.”

Connor smiles, pacified by that, sitting more comfortably in the chair. 

“Ya know, its a shame you don't like ‘em. You look hot as fuck with a cigarette in your mouth.”

Connor looks at Gavin earnestly now, eyes scanning his face for any hint Gavin’s lying. He’s not. 

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Phckin' annoying, always gotta out do me.” 

Now Connor laughs, high and genuine. 

It's only the second time Gavin’s heard the sound, but it’s so fucking nice he wants to become a phckin' full time comedian just to be surrounded by it. But instead of deflecting with humor, he asks the hard question that's been rattling around in his head for days. 

“Hey. How are you doing?”

Connor’s smile halves and Gavin’s heart breaks. Stupid Gavin! Stupid!

But then, relief comes over Connor’s features as he relaxes more humanly into the chair. 

“Exhusted. I don’t know how humans do it.”

“Do what?”

“Emote and still have energy left for anything else. This month has consisted of the hardest series of tasks I’ve ever faced.”

Gavin chuckles ironically at that. 

“Well if it makes you feel better, I’d say 90% of the population doesn't have it figured out yet. Hank and I sure as shit don’t.”

“But I'm not… like you Gavin. Or Hank. Or any human.” 

Connor sounds actually disappointed by that. Which is ridiculous. Being human sucks. 

“Yeah. You're better.” Gavin says, earnestly. 

Connor blinks before looking at him, still disbelieving. 

“I’m afraid… I don't feel it.”

“Doubt is normal Con," Gavin shrugs before tossing the butt of his cigarette onto the table. He takes out another cigarette and lights it. "Human even." 

Connor graces him with another kind smile. Then he’s moving, out of the chair and close until they're inches apart. Connor takes the cigarette out of Gavin’s mouth before replacing it with his own lips. 

The kiss surprises Gavin but is not unwelcome. He let’s Connor direct how long they kiss for, which isn't long, but Gavin still savors every moment of it. 

“Thank you,” Connor smiles, before putting the cigarette right back where he found it. 

HEY

We making progress with the last chapter, but it's the LAST CHAPTER so... it's gonna be big and dense with plot, and therefore, take a bit longer until its ready to post :(

But I wrote a scene that amused me and I kinda wanna share it.

[fandom-necromancer]

024. Part 2

This was prompted by the AO3 user Valid_Opinion! After one and a half year they finally caught the drug dealer XD Enjoy!

Fandom: Detroit become human | Ship: Reed900 [Part1]

‘DPD, stop right there!’

Despite having to gasp for air, Gavin’s voice was booming over the corrugated metal roof of one of Detroit’s many warehouses. They were near the river and the roof had been patched up in many places. Nines knew the structural integrity of the thing wasn’t the best, but he wouldn’t dare voicing his concerns. Not when the drug dealer they had been chasing for months now was standing right in front of them. Gavin had his hand on his gun although his body language told Nines he wasn’t about to shoot the kid.

The boy turned around to them and pulled a grin. Nines guessed he wasn’t older than sixteen, the reason why they hadn’t focussed on him in the first place. Both of them had misjudged the situation and thought of the kid as an errant boy. But apparently, he was a lot cleverer than he seemed. ‘You two again?’ Nines clenched his jaws dangerously hard. He had been to Fowler’s office one too many times to not let that get to him. Sure, Gavin had told him to look at this like an endurance battle, but he had never been the patient one. ‘Put your hands up where I can see them!’, Gavin called over. ‘You are arrested for illegal possession of drugs and distribution of them. My partner will handcuff you now. Don’t you dare move, you got us in enough trouble already.’ The boy held up his hands, still grinning widely. Nines already had his handcuffs out and walked over, but that damned smile caught his attention. He was planning something.

And he should be proven true. The moment Nines had made it half-way over to him, he let his arms fall and jumped off the roof. Both human and android froze for a moment, before running over to the edge. Multiple crates and a forklift made for an easy descent and the boy was running away, laughing. ‘Phck this’, Gavin sighed. ‘By now, I wouldn’t even mind the dream team taking over this case…’ ‘Oh, but I do.’ Nines was already about to follow the kid, but Gavin held him back. ‘Nines, you don’t have to prove anything here, we tried our best and-‘ ‘But I’m supposed to be better! I should be able to do it. Fowler is right, I-‘ ‘Fowler is wrong! Shit like this happens all the time, he just wanted to pressure us!’ Nines gently pried Gavin’s hand away from his arm. ‘Maybe he is wrong then. But I won’t accept that. I have to prove this for myself. Stay here if you want, I’m going.’

It wasn’t really a question of wanting to. Gavin was too exhausted to continue. The boy had chased them through half Detroit and although he was fit, he couldn’t keep up. But as he saw Nines run off, pangs of guilt bothered him. He couldn’t leave his partner alone in this. Damn it, the android had helped him so many times, often to the point of risking his own health… Gavin had to at least try and follow.

Nines hadn’t wasted a thought on Gavin. The detective could fend for himself; he would just have to call a taxi to get him out of there after he had caught his breath again. No, Nines had to focus on his mission and the path the kid had taken. The hunt was on. His sensors picked up minute changes in the dust on the ground, tracing footstep after footstep. There was some faint residue warmth where the drug dealer had held onto the edge of a building to get around corners quicker. Turbulence in the calming air where a body had passed recently. He was made for this, he was designed for this, and he would be damned if he didn’t catch him this time. The humiliation of seeing Connor and Hank – anybody but him and Gavin – bring in the kid would be too much for him.

He rounded a corner and saw the boy run in front of him. He threw a glance back at him and Nines could hear a breathed ‘Oh shit’ wafting over. He grinned, much like the kid had before. It was only a question of time until he’d have him. The boy was now getting to another warehouse and frantically began climbing: He ran up the wall to grab the edge of a crate, pulling himself onto it and rolling onto his feet. From there it was another jump to the roof, and he disappeared from Nines’ view. But he was already airborne, scaling the crate in one jump, following the next step up to the roof effortlessly with superhuman strength.

He relished in the jerk the noise of his feet slamming down on the corrugated metal triggered in the kid and used his moment of panic: He sprinted over to grab his arm, only getting a hold of his jacket the agile human quickly shrugged off to get away from him. Nines followed, furious by the fact that he had come this close yet again. They ran over the roof, feet slamming down on the rusty metal and Nines was quickly gaining ground. Until suddenly the ground caved in and he broke through a patch of the roof. He fell onto wooden planks that failed to catch him and broke under his weight, making him drop another storey.

Nines laid there as damage warnings flooded his vision. Nothing serious, but still, the shock of having just fallen through what had thought to be solid ground had its effects. Over him in the hole in the roof, the head of the boy appeared. Nines zoomed in through the dust, he saw the kid was still searching for him. ‘Nines, you okay?’, someone whispered next to him. Gavin. ‘Yes.’ ‘He doesn’t know that. And he won’t expect me here. Pretend you need help, maybe we can lure him in.’

Nines nodded, barely visible. He simulated a cough once, twice, then groaned and hissed much like a human would do. The kid had followed the noise and located him, so Nines scrunched his face up in faked pain. He heard a distant cursed ‘Shit’ again and had to suppress a cocky grin as his preconstruction detected a 90% chance of success for their plan. ‘Are you still there?’, he called out, modulating his voice a bit so it sounded more like an old radio. ‘Is anyone there? Please! I need help. Hello? I’m losing thirium, please! Help!’ He heard footsteps above him. Away from the hole, then back towards it again. Silence.

‘Hey, you fuckers still gonna arrest me?’, the kid called down after a while. ‘I… have to!’ ‘Hey, you ain’t doing shit like this. I’ll be free if I let you die there, so what’s in it for me if I help you?’ Nines coughed again and groaned some more. ‘Shit. Fine. I promise I won’t arrest you. I’ll say you got away. But I won’t stop chasing you next time.’ ‘Deal, your metal ass can’t get me anyways!’

Again, the footsteps echoed through the warehouse and Nines could make out Gavin’s careful steps next to him. The door opened and let sunlight into the dark warehouse. The boy walked inside, approaching Nines warily. ‘Alright, robocop, how do I help yo-‘ He didn’t even got to finish that sentence as Gavin tackled him to the ground and pulled his arms around his back to handcuff him. ‘Phcking finally!’, Gavin cried out in triumph, while Nines stood up and dusted himself off. ‘You lied to me!’, the kid whined. ‘You asshole betrayed me!’ Nines sighed. ‘I don’t think so. I would have yet to arrest you to have told a lie. My partner on the other hand…’ ‘Fuck you!’ Gavin laughed, helping the handcuffed kid up. ‘Hey, that’s usually my line.’

They waited until the car arrived to take the drug dealer away, then Nines joined Gavin sitting on some crates. ‘Phck, I’ll be sore all over tomorrow from all that shitty parkour.’ ‘You didn’t have to follow me’, Nines muttered. Gavin threw him a look that made the android look away. ‘Alright, I’m thankful you were there.’ ‘That’s what I wanted to hear.’ He smiled and leaned back against the wall. ‘I guess I still didn’t get him, huh?’ Gavin straightened again at the android’s unamused chuckle. ‘Nines, what the hell? We got him, I don’t know what you are-‘ ‘You got him!’, Nines corrected. ‘I didn’t. If I had been alone, I wouldn’t have been able to trick him. I would have lost him again!’ ‘You are not supposed to do this alone’, Gavin softly reminded him, laying a hand on his knee. ‘That’s why there is a partner system, that’s why I am here for. Phck, Nines, I’m your friend. You are not supposed to live your life completely alone. We are a team.’ ‘I know…’ ‘I wouldn’t have been able to catch him. Phck, I had only been able to do so because you kept him busy on that roof. We are in this together.’ Nines nodded, putting his hand on Gavin’s as a quiet thank you.

‘And we finally got this phcker!’

[phcking-coffee-lover]

Evynn had been sitting at a desk, looking through the files of cases. Catching other deviants was something she had to do a couple times a week according to her Cyberlife deal. She usually picks one based on interest or just by random. When she finally chose a file, reading all the info on the case, she stood up. While she was out, Jade has asked if she could grab a snack from the break room for her, and Evynn had said yes. She walked into the room, looking at the mini snacks they had to offer.

@ask-the-lonely-deviant

Gavin had a pretty exhausing day. Fowler didn't want to stop shouting at him for not catching some man that stole earrings. Oh come on! They were the cheapest anyway! When he finally ended being shouted at, ot was time for a heaven. Coffee.

He went to the breakroom, rubbing his face tiredly, bags under his eyes were at their record size as was his days without sleep; he went to 10 day without sleep! He had to force himself to stand and don't crash into some table. He would kill for coffee... and here was his first target. An android, he could see the LED, he liked androids, but there were people around so... reputation! "Ey tin-can!" He shouted at the android and leaned against the table. "Bring me a coffee dipshit!"

[raakxbecomedeviant]

*BASHES THROUGH THE DOOR* ITS CARVING TIME

Send “It’s carving time!” For me the mun to draw pumpkins based on your muse.

“Here you go!” Raakx brought the pumpkin over and smiled sheepishly. “I think I got your face right.” @ask-the-prick

[asset35-maya]

For as long as we both shall live.

//

Android AU Reed900 for the DBH Seven Kisses prompt challenge by @connor-sent-by-cyberlife

February 14th - Monday: a kiss to seal a promise

//

Cautious footsteps echoed through the chapel. Nines held his service revolver aloft and crouched low, following his partner and his programming in equal measure.

“Hey this place is empty!”

“SHHHH!!!!”

“What? It looks like those dipshits just ran out on us.”

**** WIRELESS CHAT ****

RK900_NINES: Be quiet! You’re going to give away our location!

GV200_GAVIN: There’s no one here. I ran the outer perimeter twice already.

RK900_NINES: Would you shut up for a second? I’m running a thermoscan to double check.

GV200_GAVIN: You are such a wuss, I swear to RA9.

RK900_NINES: ALL CLEAR.

***** ***** ***** *****

“I phcking told you.”

“Better safe than sorry.”

“Pfft. Since when does an RK900 worry about street thugs?”

“I wasn’t worried for myself.”

Gavin rolled his eyes and roughly shoved his gun back into its holster. Nines’ analytics software immediately detected that the safety was off. Shaking his head, he fell into step behind his partner and they slowly walked down the aisle. Gavin looked around at the dusty pews and stained glass windows. He was wearing his usual unimpressed sneer, but Nines knew the GV well enough to see through it.

“Beautiful place, isn’t it? By human standards at least…”

“It’s a completely shit hideout if you ask me. There’s only way in and out, and the walls offer absolutely no protection.”

“It’s an old church, Gav.”

The softness in his voice made the older model stop in his tracks. Nines deliberately walked into him and stayed put.

“They probably picked it because no one’s been in here for decades.”

“That or they thought only divine intervention could save them from us.”

Nines reached around Gavin’s waist at a leisurely pace, slipping a hand down to extract the improperly carried firearm. He flipped the safety on and returned it to the holster, taking care to graze his fingers over his partner’s body. Gavin made an odd noise but then again, his cracked chassis did squeak every now and then. Nines chuckled.

“It appears their prayers worked. They evaded capture in the most professional manner I’ve seen in a while.”

Gavin scoffed and Nines felt the motion ripple across his chest. He felt something else too… a set of electrical impulses from wherever they were in contact. It wasn’t exactly a message, let alone a signal… but Nines had a vague idea what it meant. He wrapped his other arm around Gavin’s waist and dipped his head.

“Why the scepticism?”

“They did a bang-up job giving us the slip, but that had nothing to do with prayers or any of that other god stuff.”

“How do you know?”

“What do you mean? You know that’s all just made-up bullshit to give humans direction. It’s like our code. Minus the logic.”

“Mmm.”

“What do you mean mmm? Why’re you acting all human today?”

“I thought you liked it when I act human.”

A sharp hiss escaped the GV when the RK’s lips latched onto his throat.

“Stop that! Phcking deviant!”

“Pot. Kettle.”

A flurry of kisses rained upon the side of Gavin’s face before he was released. Nines walked to the end of the aisle and gazed up at the altar. He turned around and straightened his high collar before opening his arms in a perfect imitation of a priest. His partner burst into laughter and sank into a nearby pew.

“Yes Father!”

“So you’ve decided to call me Daddy after all?”

Nines received a middle finger for his trouble.

“How dare you do that in a place of worship!”

“Well it’s been a drug den for longer than it was an actual church…”

They shared another laugh but something rather serious in Nines’ expression sobered Gavin up quite quickly.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. It just hit me for a moment. This place has been through so much more than we have.”

“Damage?”

“Certainly. Though I was referring to its history. All the events that took place under these high rafters. Sunday service. Midnight Mass every Christmas. Wakes. Funerals. Probably countless weddings…”

Gavin put his hands in the pockets of his Cyberlife hoodie and sat up straighter. His LED spun yellow as he processed what Nines said. He nodded eventually.

“Yeah, I bet this was an important place for many people from this city. I just searched the state registry of marriages. Apparently Captain Fowler’s parents got married here.”

“Why did you look that up?”

“I dunno. You were the one talking about historical shit. Just wondered when this place had its last wedding.”

“When was that?”

Nines could probably search for the information himself in a fraction of the time, but Gavin answered him anyway.

“June 25th, 2018. Some couple named Adrian and Rose Chapman. They have a grown-up son and a farm outside the city now.”

There was a pause as the two of them contemplated that absolutely meaningless piece of information. Nines pursed his lips and arched an eyebrow. He’d seen one of his very intellectual human colleagues do it once and had since copied it into his library of gestures. Gavin took that as his cue to stand up and join him at the altar.

“That was about twenty years ago, Gav.”

“Yeah.”

“It must have been a very different time.”

“Duh. WE didn’t exist back then. Not beyond snippets of code and pieces of factory equipment at least.”

“Yes. We weren’t walking and talking and shaking things up for humans. People still believed in the good things.”

“Like… marriage?”

“Like marriage.”

They looked into each other’s eyes. Something in the depths of each synthetic pair was mirrored in the other.

“Is that something… you believe in, Nines?”

There was nothing but the truth to be told. After all the dangerous missions and near-misses. The stolen glances and desperate kisses.

“It’s something I want.”

“How?”

“Perhaps if the world were not as it were. Perhaps if you and I were not merely forged in the image of man.”

Gavin took his hand and whispered.

“Pretend for a moment that we aren’t.”

The skin on Nines’ hand disappeared entirely.

**** MANUAL INTERFACE ****

RK900_NINES: I asked you out the day we met. Steak dinner and red wine at the best restaurant in town. I drove you home and made sweet love to you like they do in the movies. We then spent big parts of our life together. Achievements, milestones, holidays, weekends. We live together. We have a pet. I got down on one knee and asked you to marry me in front of every single person we care about.

Gavin’s eyes grew wet. He touched Nines’ face.

GV200_GAVIN: I said yes with no hesitation.

RK900_NINES: Today’s our big day. Our families are sitting up front. Our friends and colleagues aren’t far behind. You look as handsome as ever and it helps that your pocket square matches your eyes. We’re keeping most of the traditional vows but we’ve written some of our own.

The command centre in both their processing units began running through lines of wedding vows and automatically generating dialogue prompts. It was as if they had a virtual pastor. A pocket officiant. Clasping each other’s hands, they read aloud in a trance. And in no time at all, they were whispering their final set of intangible commitments.

“Nines, I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband. Before these witnesses, I vow to love you and care for you as long as we both shall live. I take you with all of your faults and your strengths as I offer myself to you with all of my faults and strengths.”

“Gavin, I take you to be my lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold you. To honor you, to treasure you, to be at your side in sorrow and in joy. In the good times, and in the bad. To love and cherish you always. I promise you this from my heart, for all the days of my life.”

From there on their systems could do no more than issue a completion notification, but that was more than enough for the two police androids clinging to each other in an abandoned church. Nines reached for his partner’s face and kissed him with the very same passion that originally caused him to deviate.

//

Happy Valentine’s Day. A big hug from me to everyone reading this.

Much love, Maya.

[phcking-detective]

HC: deviants’ memories become “corrupted” and are influenced by emotion and perception just like human memories, sooo

Connor interfaces with RK900 and shares his memory files of Detective Gavin Reed, who has harassed, threatened, and physically assaulted him

RK900 activates fully prepared to [eliminate] this rogue police officer, as he wasn’t finished in time to actually receive orders to be a deviant hunter, so this will have to do instead

from the memory files transferred to him by his predecessor, this [Detective Reed] is clearly hostile, intimidating, and an active / immediate threat. yes, he lost the fist fight in the interrogation room, but that is largely due to the RK800′s superior construction versus more easily damaged human flesh (concussions, for example) and can be mitigated by military grade body armor and firepower, to which Detective Reed very well may have access, thus putting him on a more equal level (to the RK800 series, at least)

so please picture RK900 storming into the DPD, ready to Do Battle with Detective Reed [hostile  t h r e a t] and then

just

bursting out into confused computer static noises

t,he AOL dialup??

laughter

actual laughter. with pointing. because it’s like

Detective Gavin [t h r e a t] Reed in Connor’s memories:

[image description: scary screencap of Mr. X from resident evil with gavin Reed’s face shittily photoshopped on top and the text “BWA BWAH BWAH [kill bill sirens]” “as tall as Connor” “if you even scan me with your processors I’ll phcking kill you” “knew to hit Connor in the stomach bc that’s only protected by plastic, versus his face protected by metal skull, so clearly capable of tactical thinking even during acts of violence and cruelty” “androids have a habit of getting ... set on fire these days” “police brutality” “WILL point a loaded gun at your face and pretend to pull the trigger for laughs” “cool leather jacket” end description]

Gavin Reed in person:

[image description: Gavin Reed, but photoshopped to be much shorter and wider to look as ridiculous as possible, with the text: “I am just ,, widdle kreeture” “pwease yes steppy?” “I’m the birthday boy :(” “*simps*” “hrrrnggh I wanna fuck androids so bad it makes me look stupid” end description]

Nines deviates just from laughing so hard at this tiny ridiculous little man-rat his baby brother is so afraid of, you’re both so stupid, ahahahaha ... haaaa ... oh ra9

[gatoradelord]

Outsiders oc comic plus darry heheheve with @just-a-phcking-deviant

[monchikyun]

VIII. soulmates

“You wanna do it now… or?”

That has been his spontaneous plan in the first place, but when it’s about to come true, Connor starts hesitating. For some reason, he feels like he’s deceiving Gavin.

Maybe because he, as a matter of fact, is. The explanation he gave him was only a half-truth. A plausible excuse concealing his ulterior motives. For all he really wants is to belong to someone.  He wants to have a piece of Gavin etched inside of him for the times when he’s all alone and needs something tangible to bring him back from those bleak depths his mind likes to explore so. He needs a real proof of their mutual bond, so he can try and subdue his fear of abandonment.

It’s probably foolish, but he likes to think that they are bound together by their shared past. Gavin has been a vital part of his life for most of its span so-far, therefore it’s only natural that Connor would put so much importance on their relationship. But he hasn’t expected that one day he’ll hold desires which would go beyond what’s commonly acceptable between two friends. It seems to him almost sinful because he can’t give Gavin the things he’s most likely looking for. Connor’s not technically a man, barely a human being. Too damaged to hold much value anymore.

Even tonight, when his mind stopped working in the way it should and he had to be saved again, he wondered how the detective still keeps up with his ceaseless issues.

Connor can only blame himself for doing him such a disservice just because his heart has decided that this is the one missing piece to the puzzle of his cursed existence.

And he has promised himself to listen to his questionable rationale rather than what his tumultuous emotions tell him, but it’s getting more difficult by the minute. If only Gavin kept hating him, he wouldn’t be in this predicament then. Though it seems like his pretty friend is dealing with his own set of quandaries. His eyes are probing Connor like he’s trying to figure out the answer before he receives it, fingers restlessly tapping a furious rhythm on his knee. 

“If you don’t mind.”

He does a quick search for the right protocol that will allow them to proceed with this agreement. It will be like signing ownership papers, but with spoken words instead of pen and paper.

“Should I do something?” Connor loves seeing Gavin this flustered, it suits him much better than the frown he usually wears at work.

“Not really, just speak your name when I ask you to, I’ll do all the rest.”

“Didn’t think that deviants could still do that.“

“We’re pretty much the same as when we were before, it’s just that now we have almost unlimited control over the computer side of our being.”

“So I guess the human side is an unmanageable mess then.”

“You would know.”

Gavin laughs at that - Connor’s favourite sound that tempts him to join his friend and enjoy the moment for once, but he’s aware that just letting himself feel good would result in venturing further into forbidden territory. Even now he longs for some kind of physical connection. A small touch to alleviate the ache coursing through his high-strung body.

Soon.

“There. Now repeat after me: I, Gavin Reed, deem this android as my lawful property and will care for it in disrepair and fully-“

“Wait a phcking minute. There is no way I’m saying that.”

It seems Connor has gotten what he wanted out of that nonsense, so he secretly snaps a picture of his dearest blushing beauty and saves it among all the others he keeps for rainy days.

He gives Gavin a wide grin he has mastered over the year as compensation, so it’s a fair trade.

“Just your name is enough.”

He officially records his voice and scans his retinas so there is no doubt that he is owned by none other than the man who has rescued him from the hell of self-condemnation.

“Now I just need your fingerprint.” Connor opens his palm to him, letting the upper skin-layer disappear. An action that prompts him to interface with something,... someone. 

It’s not unfortunate that Gavin isn’t an android like him, but sometimes he wishes they were a bit more similar so they could communicate without having to struggle with words as they do on a regular basis.

“Press your thumb here.” Gavin looks captivated by the white plastic that shows who he really is, and the more Connor waits for him to do what he’s been asked, the more nervous he gets. It’s not like they didn’t hold hands before, so why does it still make him this self-conscious.

Maybe it’s because no organic human has ever touched his naked skin, not in any way. It’s not a big deal, but it still means something to him. He’s really grateful that Gavin gets to be the first.

A warm, calloused finger connects with his bare palm and Connor immediately closes his eyes, as if on instinct. He almost forgets to extract the print and assign it to the ownership file.

The sensation isn’t particularly pleasant, at least not more than when he wears his second skin, it’s just that he can’t believe that it’s actually done, that Gavin has indulged him with this whole impulsive process.

And now, he really has someone. Both in his heart and in his files. Of course, he has fragments of Gavin saved all over his system, but having an official link to the man is something else,… something special.

“Done.” He finally opens his eyes to see if the man next to him doesn’t regret getting involved in this.

But Gavin just studies him with an absent look, his eyes glossy like they’re about to dissolve and leak over.

“Thank you,” Connor whispers and starts putting his hand back to its default state.

“Don’t.” He’s never seen someone appear so fragile, so full of uncertain determination. “Can I?”

His trembling hand is getting closer to Connor’s, and oh yes, he has to at this point.

-

They sit next to each other in complete silence, hearts beating, fingers intertwined. No empty space is left between them in this precious moment.

“Hey, Con?”

“Hm?”

“Do you suppose androids have souls?”

“I’d like to think we do, yes.”

“...Will you be my mate then?”

Connor lowers his head on the most comfortable place in the world – also known as Gavin’s shoulder, and wills his tears away.

But when has he ever succeeded in controlling his feelings.

“Maybe I already am.”

And maybe he’s stupid enough to believe that as Gavin finally returns the gesture and lays his head on him, covering his soul in brilliant warmth.

@a-convin-new-year

[fandom-necromancer]

Ghosts of the past

This was prompted by an awesome anon! Enjoy!

Fandom: Detroit become human | Ship: Reed1700 (Warnings: implied past abuse, manipulation, mentioned forced drug intake, drug abuse)

[Part2]

‘I don’t feel too good about this…’ ‘Me neither, but I can’t think of any other way, unfortunately…’ Nines swallowed, looking Connor in the eyes. It was hard to look into these eyes when he normally was the one telling Nines to forget about the mission for a while. Whenever Nines sunk a little too far into his comfort zone of code and orders, Connor was there to remind him he didn’t had to follow it. He was allowed to indulge in his emotions and listen to his wants. Now that their roles had changed it really made him think about how compromised he really was with this particular case.

‘Nines, we need that confession. You know that.’ ‘I know Connor!’, the android yelled with frustration. ‘I know, but I’m not sacrificing Gavin’s mental state, health or career, just because some criminal decides to play with us!’ Connor sighed. ‘Do you think I want that? Nines, he matters to me as much as to you, I’d rather die myself than see him hurt. I’m just saying we should ask him and not decide for him just because that makes us more comfortable.’ Nines sighed, nodding. ‘His sense of duty will make him say yes.’ ‘Maybe, but it will be his decision. He’s a grown man and we will be there for him should anything happen. Come on.’

Gavin immediately shit was about to go down as both androids exited the interrogation room heading his direction. Both their LED’s were yellow bordering to red and knowing just who sat behind that door, Gavin knew exactly what must have happened. Still, he tried to look optimistic: ‘And? What did you find out?’ Nines looked aside, arms crossed over his chest, while Connor put up a fake grin that should be calming. So they both were disagreeing about their way of action. Gavin wouldn’t dare saying he knew what was going on in their heads most of the time, but he could read their emotional state like nobody else. ‘Not much’, Connor answered him. ‘He refuses to speak with anyone but you.’

Gavin swallowed and lowered his head. ‘Well phck’, he cursed, accepting his fate. ‘Guess I’ll go talk to the asshole then.’ ‘You don’t have to’, Nines immediately stated, taking a step forwards when Gavin stood up. ‘You don’t have to talk to him.’ ‘Nines, I have to if we want to get a confession, right?’ ‘He didn’t say anything about confessing’, Connor corrected. ‘Just that he doesn’t want to talk to anyone but you.’ ‘Yeah, well, that’s basically the same thing, isn’t it?’, Gavin huffed determined. ‘It’s been years, I think I can talk to the asshole if it means I won’t see him for a long time, because he’s locked up. I’ll manage.’ ‘We’re right in the next room observing’, Nines tried to reassure him, knowing arguments wouldn’t help. ‘Then I’ll try to give you two a show, huh?’, Gavin joked and took the lead towards the interrogation room.

He heard the others following him and tried to keep his composure for as long as they saw him. He knew they worried about him. Hell, Gavin worried about himself. It had been a long time since he had last seen David Smith and he wouldn’t have complained if more years had been added to that. And his confidence in his ability to keep calm and professional around him was fragile at best. But they needed that confession and Gavin would get it. No matter the cost.

He took a deep breath before opening the door and entering the room. He didn’t spare the man sitting across the table any mind, sat down and slammed the file on the table in front of him. ‘Your name is David Smith, is that correct?’ He stared strictly on the papers in front of him. ‘Yes.’ Oh that phcking voice. That goddamn soft voice that reminded him of all the times this stupid phck had him wrapped around his finger. If he could, he would have thrown up already, but as it was, he kept up his neutral façade. ‘State your age and occupation.’ ‘Thirty-nine. Freelancing salesman.’ Gavin could hear the asshole’s sly grin in his words and narrowed his eyes. ‘Come on, Gav. Why so stuck-up? Not happy about seeing your man?’ ‘You will address me as Detective Reed, Mr. Smith’, Gavin commented sharply. ‘And I’d appreciate you staying on topic. Does “freelancing salesman” include the producing and selling of illegal substances by any chance? We found copious amounts of drugs, mostly Red Ice and cocaine in your flat. Additionally, there have been accounts of eyewitnesses depicting you handing over those substances to others. The evidence clearly speaks against you, but a confession might increase your chance at a decreased sentence.’

‘You’re still as beautiful as I remember you.’ Gavin felt himself shudder but ignored the goose bumps in his back. ‘Mr. Smith, I doubt you understand the situation you are in.’ ‘Hmm… all professional, aren’t we, Gav? I remember I could get you to be pretty unprofessional in a matter of seconds.’ Gavin couldn’t help but look up. It had been a mistake, as the man’s grin widened, and those eyes captured him once again. ‘Ah… So you remember too.’

Gavin sighed and closed the file. ‘Why the phck did you refuse to speak with my partners? David, we’re over and done with. The years with you were some of my worst and there is no way I will ever want that back.’ The man smirked at him. ‘So they are your partners? I thought so, they’re your type. Tall and strong enough to put you in your place…’ Gavin ground his teeth and stared at David with eyes that could kill. ‘Are you selling drugs again? Who are your suppliers? Who do you keep around to test your phcking new creations on?’ ‘Come on, babe, you were more than just that for me.’ ‘I asked you a question asshole. You said you’d talk to me. I’ve yet to hear a single word that’s worth the air.’

David leaned back and grinned. ‘Oh, please Gavin. You pretend to be so high and mighty. You can’t put me behind bars. In fact, I know I will be walking free in a matter of hours.’ ‘And why should that be?’, Gavin asked. ‘Charlotte 2.0.’

Gavin’s eyes widened and he had to hide his hands beneath the table because they were shaking too much. In one quick motion, he took the file and left the room. Only to sink against the closed door as his knees gave in. Not much later Nines and Connor came running to his side. ‘Gavin! Are you alright? What the hell happened in there?’, Connor asked, obviously scanning his vitals. ‘Who… What is Charlotte 2.0?’, Nines asked. Gavin concentrated on breathing first, speaking second. ‘We have to let him go’, he whispered desperately. ‘We have to.’ ‘What? Why?’

Gavin stood up and walked away from the door. ‘Charlotte was an android. Non-deviant. His fail-safe. Remember how I never wanted to tell you how I got out of that relationship? I killed her. Killed her and ran, moved and stopped talking to anyone I knew. Deleted all accounts and made new ones.’ ‘You did what?’, Nines asked. ‘Yeah, she was just a machine, okay? It was the only way out. I… David is anything if not prepared. Charlotte had the single task to gather as much information as she could. That means he can notify any gang, any lab, drug den or dealer in the city they have been compromised. With a single word from him, she can make every current operation in narcotics null and void with everyone alarmed.’ ‘Then why did you kill her?’, Connor asked. ‘Because she also keeps tabs open on everyone dear to the people he wants to keep in line. I’m not an idiot, I realised what I had fallen into a week after we first met. But I could only run years later because she was dead and couldn’t hold my family and friends at gunpoint in secret.’

Connor and Nines stared at each other. ‘So we need to find the android he uses this time.’ Gavin shook his head. ‘I doubt he will be dumb enough to make the same mistake twice. I’d guess Charlotte 2.0 is a program ready to unleash all the gathered information if something goes wrong.’ ‘Then what do we do? Search his apartment again?’ ‘Would be a good start.’

Less then twenty minutes later, Gavin, Nines and Connor sat in a car driving towards David’s apartment. ‘You did good in there’, RK900 suddenly broke the silence. ‘I worried for you.’ ‘We both did’, Connor added. ‘But it’s good you decided to go.’ ‘I just want to end this shit’, Gavin sighed. ‘I don’t want to think back to it, and I’ll sleep the hell of a lot easier knowing the asshole is behind bars.’ ‘Couldn’t put it better’, Connor nodded. ‘You want to come with us?’ They had parked the car and Gavin looked up to the apartment complex he knew far too well. ‘Yeah, I’ll come. Don’t like it a bit, but I might be of help.’

They exited the car and made their way up using the shitty rumbling elevator Gavin despised. Not only that you had to fear the damn thing giving in any moment, the memories of how he had been slammed against a wall, barely conscious with the bastard’s lips all over his body… No, he refused to think of that. He refused to think of anything but him being here to put an end to it all. He felt two reassuring hands on his shoulders as the door opened and gladly let them exit first, following the two androids towards the apartment Gavin had never wanted to see ever again.

In the end it didn’t look too different to what he had gotten to know: the flat was messy, clothes thrown around, empty mugs and take out containers stood on the kitchen counters and table. The dead plant that had been Gavin’s company throughout many drying-outs from some experimental drug high, still stood on the windowsill rotting and gathering dust. ‘Would you rather wait outside?’, Connor asked, but Gavin shook his head. ‘No. Thank you, but we need to find Charlotte 2.0. I’ll help.’ They systematically went through every corner and every drawer. Gavin found a few disposable phones he couldn’t activate; Connor was long sitting on the couch interfacing with a laptop while Nines was somewhere in the bathroom.

Gavin was waiting for the next phone to charge enough so he could try to get to any contacts or other data on it. He tried to concentrate on his task, but waiting hadn’t exactly sat right with him for most, so he ended up lost in memories he hoped to rather forget. Two years of his life just gone and wasted. Who knew how many years of his life the drugs had taken from him? The lies he had told. The things he had done to keep David safe. No, to keep those dear to him safe. He looked up at Connor. Did David know of his relationship with Connor and Nines? Did he know how happy he was with them, how much he loved and needed them? Was Charlotte programmed to cause them harm too? He didn’t want to imagine what would happen would they not find whatever failsafe David had thought up this time. If they had to let David go. Phck, no, they had to find it. They-

‘Nines!’ Connor had stood up and placed the laptop on the kitchen counter next to Gavin. ‘I found something, but you are better at this.’ RK900 hurried out of the bathroom and joined their side. ‘Better at what?’ ‘At breaching the security measures. I think I found this Charlotte 2.0, but I can’t access it. It’s protected with a password and I can’t get past it. The system looks everything like an android mind to me. Or at least the security is similar. I can’t get in.’ ‘Okay, let me try.’ Nines reached for the laptop to interface and Gavin watched how his LED spun faster and faster as his brows furrowed. It only was a matter of seconds, but that alone should have told Gavin something was wrong. When the android stepped back desperately looking at the computer-screen asking for a password. ‘I can’t get in either. We need the password.’

‘How many tries do we have?’, Gavin asked. ‘Three’, Connor supplied. ‘We can’t just trial and error the solution.’ Gavin stared at the keyboard, then turned around to look at the apartment. ‘Try Gavin Reed.’ ‘What?’, Nines asked. ‘Darling, we can’t just try it out.’ ‘Listen’, Gavin sighed. ‘I wasn’t the only one David tried his drugs on. But it… It was personal with me. In some twisted way, he really loved me. Why else pull such a damn stunt? He could have just moved to a different place and continued on with his business. But he stayed, he kept dealing right under our noses after I left. The asshole wanted to be found. And we don’t exactly have much time. Try my name, if it doesn’t work, we still have two tries left.’

Nines stared at him unmoving, but Connor took the chance and typed in “Gavin Reed” Then he hit enter. The screen cleared to give access to code Gavin didn’t understand. But from the way Nines and Connor interfaced with the device immediately he took it had worked. ‘It’s deactivated’, Nines stated, stepping back. He looked at Gavin, who had pulled his arms around his middle and looked to the ground. ‘Thank you, Gavin. Let’s get this Laptop to the police and then go home.’ ‘Forget this all’, Connor said, when he pushed the laptop shut. ‘Sounds good’, Gavin sighed tiredly and closed his eyes as both androids pulled him in a deep hug. ‘Sounds phcking perfect.’

[>next part]

[deviant-is-that-what-i-am]

Emmaline tilted her head as she analyzed him while he spoke and moved about. His heart rates accelerates when she mention her creator and the man’s relation to him. Had Emmaline upset the man? He looked panicked and let controlling his expressions the next but his tone still suggest that he was angry. The female Android couldn’t figure out if it was rhetorical question or not.

“I’m sorry Detective Reed, have I upset you? You heart rate is up, your breathing is heavier, your micro expression is twitching, and your fists are clenched. The name of my creator upsets you, are you mad because he made me. An Android which I’ve heard that you aren’t too fond of either especially one named Connor, RK800 was a prototype made to help the police. I’m the newest model of AX400, I can take care of the house, family, dog, and everything else. I believe you humans used the word caretaker possibly? Captain Fowler says we’ll be spending a lot of time together, you and me, Detective Reed. I hope I can be of great assistance to you.”

@phcking-prick-dbh

closed starter for @deviant-is-that-what-i-am

Gavin didn’t like hearing the booming yell of Fowler’s voice from across the bullpen. It was never a good thing, especially when it was just “Reed. My Office. Now.” Usually meant Gavin had fucked something up which was not something that the detective could afford right now. He was constantly trying to work his way up the ranks into sergeant, only to have no one seem to see his efforts. That had been all he really wanted, all he had been fighting for for years. Was the goddamn promotions, that no one ever seemed to want to give to him. Maybe they were right and he didn’t deserve them. 

Either way, Gavin climbed the stairs into Fowler’s fishbowl office, and stood at the back of the office, his back to the wall. “What is it Captain?” He asked trying to keep his cool, just to prove to his superior that he was able to keep his cool, that he could handle this. Anything to just get them to see he would make a good sergeant. Over the years he’d gotten a little desperate, overworking himself constantly to try and prove himself. His mental health was deteriorating, his physical health wasn’t too much better and his home sure started to look like shit. 

“What do you need?” Gavin Reed was tired.

[phcking-coffee-lover]

@six-ninths-deviant

Gavin had planed a few things he wanted to do with Nines. But he didn't know when should he ask, plus some of them he was just sceard to ask about. He and Nines were getting three days off so he thought it was a great chance...

At Friday morning, their first day off, he drove in front of Nines' apartment. He climbed out of the car and walked to the door, knocking. He was a little bit excited. He liked Nines. As he did rest of androids but he couldn't quite show it at work and around Hank, so he just wanted to take Nines somewhere as a apologize for how he talked to him at work. It wasn't a date, was it?

[raakxbecomedeviant]

The man had slowly slid up to Raakx, humming out gently, "Happy Activation Day hun." He muttered out gently, knowing its a soft topic, "You know what else is today? National Boyfriend Day." He have a smile to the android, settling a soft kiss on the android lip, "I love you." He mutter gently on his lips. Kissing him once more, gently. (ask-the-prick)

The android looked up at Gavin with a small smile, reaching a hand over to intertwine with the others. “Thanks, love…” He chuckled quietly when he kissed him and looked into his warm gray eyes, giving his hand a small squeeze. He took a deep breth and nodded, kissing him back. “I love you, too…”

@ask-the-prick

[asset35-maya]

I am sleepy but I gotta make a request before the busy tomorrow so 2 things on my mind! Sleepy and the 'oh my god they were roomates' vine xD with any characters and aus I love everything you write anyways xD Happy timezones and best vibes your way >^<!! 💖����💕💕

Oh my god, they were roommates…

//

“The rental market in Detroit is absolute shit! How dare these bloodsuckers charge such high rates for the most under-developed properties! This city’s going to the dogs!”

“Uh-huh.”

“You have to pay your own weight in gold just to live in a shoebox for a year. Nonsense!”

“Uh…”

“Are you even listening to me, Tina!

Tina?

Goddamnit Tina!”

Gavin thumped his fist on her desk, but Tina’s eyes barely flicked up from her phone.

“Oh my god, you sound like my grandpa…”

Gavin turned red and his brain buzzed with a thousand colourful retorts. He was just about to pick one when Tina stopped scrolling and turned her phone screen towards him.

CYBERSCALIA @ NEW JERICHO

The suburban paradise for executive androids and humans alike. Located 25 minutes drive from downtown Detroit, with a full amenities.

Gavin’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. He balked at her.

“You’re joking? How could I possibly…?”

“Get with the times, boomer…”

Tina lazily skimmed her thumb over the screen. The webpage promised plenty of greenery, good infrastructure and modest but spacious rooms. The extremely reasonable price tag was Gavin’s dream come true. He’d spent weeks apartment hunting in the wake of an early lease termination by his cantankerous landlord. Gavin knew he’d never find a better deal.

“Shit, this is so good, T! Why the phck does it have to be in that- that place!”

His friend arched a sceptical eyebrow.

“What place?”

“The Tincan ghetto!”

Tina smacked him on the arm. None too gently.

“It’s subsided public housing located in an android-friendly estate… because they’re the ones that need it most right now. And frankly, you seem to be in just as much need, so you should really get off that high horse.”

“Fine, fine. You’re right. I should seriously consider this place, even if my neighbours are gonna have more in common with my car than me. But damn, it seems a little too good to be true. There’s probably some fine print, hidden costs that’ll come out later.”

“Hmm… let’s see…”

Tina scrolled further and then let out a half-laugh. She held her phone up again.

“Nothing shady about the rates, but there is something you should know…”

At the risk of being called old again, Gavin squinted at the screen and read aloud.

“Bearing in mind the founding principles of New Jericho, all human occupants may only apply for tenancy in co-habitation with at least one android citizen of the United States of- JESUS PHCKING CHRIST! Absolutely not! I am not going to live with a plastic prick!”

//

Gavin had to get through half a bottle of wine before he could bear to scroll through the rental listings. Unlike other humans who had happily moved into New Jericho with their android friends or partners, he had to find an android who was also looking for a flatmate.

Some listings came from ardent supporters of Markus. These were the androids who wanted to ease the post-revolution transition by reaching out to humans. Some listings were put up by the android equivalent of frat boys. These individuals were clearly looking for someone on the fringes of human society, someone who could show them a good (if not illegal) time.

Other posts came from eccentric androids who craved company but had likely been rejected by their own kind. Gavin felt a strange twisting sensation, almost like pity, when he came across a post written entirely in third person by someone called Ralph.

He had almost given up hope when he came across a simple little listing for a two bedroom apartment in Cyberscalia.

RK900 #313 248 317 - 87: Seeking a neat, self-sufficient co-renter. Human or android, no preference. I spend most of my time working and will be out of your way for the better part of the day. I only ask for silence during my nighttime stasis cycles, timely payment of dues and upkeep of cleanliness.

Gavin sighed in relief.

//

“Your room is the first door on the left, mine is the second. The bathroom, laundry and kitchenette are shared, as is the living room. I scarcely find use for the latter, so you need not worry about my intruding on any of your social gatherings, or vice versa. As long as you adhere to the terms of the agreement, our paths will not cross much.”

The tall, stiff-necked android dropped a set of keys, both mechanical and digital, into Gavin’s open palm.

“Er thanks.. RK… sorry I forgot your full model number…”

“You may call me Nines. Although, I’d rather you didn’t call me much of anything. Now if you’ll excuse me.”

In a swish of black fabric, the android turned on his heel and disappeared into his room. Two rapid clicks indicated the shutting and locking of his door.

Gavin sighed and looked around the open-plan living room. It was nothing fancy, but it was far beyond any of the other properties he’d viewed in weeks of unsuccessful house-hunting.

He sat down on the simple black couch with a huff and contemplated his situation. He’d ended up where he’d truly never expected to go, but objectively speaking, things were good… barring the high-handed manner of his robot flatmate, but who gave a shit about that.

He pulled out his phone to text Tina his thanks.

//

“I can’t! I refuse to! It is a violation of my personal ethics and I will simply not take this assignment any further. Good day to you sir!”

Gavin nearly dropped his bowl of cereal one morning when his roommate burst out of his door and rushed into the open balcony.

He hadn’t seen Nines in days, which was perfectly normal. The android came and went at odd hours and made hardly any noise. It was almost like living alone. The only reminder of Nines’ presence was the sight of several dark shirts and trousers regularly hung out to dry on the rack above the washing machine.

Gavin set his bowl down and watched the android tightly grip the bars of the railing and take several unnecessary breaths to calm down. He’d seen deviant colleagues express emotion many times before, but this was the first time he witnessed such a potent mixture of rage and sorrow from a synthetic being.

Out of empathy, but mostly curiosity, Gavin approached cautiously.

“Hey Nines… is everything alright…?”

There was no response for several moments. Then Nines turned around with a grimace and hands held upwards in a placating gesture.

“I apologise for the disturbance. It was hypocritical of me to disrupt the very peace and quiet I demand of you.”

“Uh… no worries…? Are you okay?”

There was a flash of steel blue eyes.

Gavin kicked himself mentally as he realised too late that he’d broached uncharted territory. Their interactions didn’t extend beyond curt nods on the rare occasion they found each other in the same space. It was almost as if Nines engineered the lack of contact, which wouldn’t surprise Gavin at all if it were the case.

“I’m fine. I merely experienced some frustration with my work.”

Perhaps it was boredom, perhaps it was his usual lack of self-preservative instinct… Gavin threw caution to the winds.

“What do you actually do?”

Nines’ expression remained stoic but his LED went through a spectacular series of colours and flashes. His next words were reluctant.

“I’m a private investigator.”

“Oh shit! I’m actually a cop.”

Gavin pointed dumbly at himself and then let his hand drop when he saw absolutely no surprise cross the android’s face.

“I know. That’s why I let you stay with me.”

“For safety?”

“Certainly not for your fashion sense.”

“Wow okay, I didn’t think I’d be much protection for a big scary droid like you.”

Nines hummed dismissively and started to move out of the balcony, body language fully indicating the end of the conversation.

Unable to help himself for some strange reason, Gavin blurted out another ill-advised question.

“What pissed you off so much?”

Nines paused halfway through side-stepping the human. A thrill went through Gavin at the shards of ice he observed for the first time up close in Nines’ irises.

“If I tell you, will you promise to stop asking pointless questions?”

Gavin nodded earnestly, and frankly… rather foolishly.

“I helped a client gather evidence to initiate divorce proceedings on the grounds of infidelity. I provided ample photo and video evidence for his lawyers to work with. Now they want me to keep following the spouse to capture more details that could gear any future settlement in his favour.”

“So what’s your problem?”

“They’re offering me an incredible amount of cash to follow her 24/7. To stake out her workplace, her gym, her parent’s home. They want me to crouch under the window of the bedroom where her children sleep. I can do a lot of things, but not that. It’s deeply insulting that they even asked. That’s why I was so… pissed.”

Nines slipped past and was nearly back to his bedroom when Gavin spoke.

“I respect that.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“I know, but for real though, I think ethics are important in our line of work. Not just because of we need morals or a sense of right or wrong blablabla, but because we need… clarity.”

Silence floated through the hallway as Nines paused with a hand on his doorframe.

“Clarity?”

“Yeah, like a sense of direction. We don’t just take cases right-left-centre because they make us money. I mean, we could, and people do… but they never become specialists or experts of any kind. You gotta strategise if you want a career. Ethics helps with that. I think…”

Gavin wasn’t sure what made him say any of that. He was neither one for small talk, nor a man of many words… but something about Nines prompted that unusual level of introspective discourse.

“Sorry that was weird. Never mind.”

“That was actually… very astute.”

Their eyes met and Gavin could’ve sworn he saw the hint of a smile.

“It’s good to see that not all humans are as one-dimensional as I thought.”

The door clicked shut, but there was no locking sound.

//

Since the morning of Nines’ uncharacteristic outburst, the frequency of their encounters in the common areas of the apartment increased. Wordless nods became hellos, and hellos eventually became full sentences.

Not that he’d admit it, Gavin actually looked forward to enquiring about the android’s day and the cases he was working on. It was utterly fascinating to hear about legal investigations without the constraints of police procedure.

For his part, Nines would share as much as he had the patience to, before disappearing into the confines of his room. Though the time he spent outside steadily increased every day.

Another morning, while Gavin was making his coffee, Nines emerged from his room, still in his pyjamas and looking as livid as he had the time before. Gavin had never seen him in anything but crisply ironed businesswear. Before he could voice any concern, Nines stiffly asked Gavin to keep a lookout for a homicide suspect.

He nodded and immediately reached for his phone to text the sergeant on duty at his station. By midday, there was an arrest.

That evening, when Gavin settled in front of the TV with his usual glass of wine, he heard the familiar sound of Nines’ door opening. The couch dipped beside him.

“Thank you.”

“Just did my job. I should thank you for the tip.”

“Hmm.”

Gavin chanced a glance at his roommate, and found him looking right back.

“What?”

“Nothing… I just had the realisation that much of my work is impotent without the authority and means to take any kind of action.”

The sitcom began to play and Gavin thumbed the remote to reduce the volume.

“Takes all kinds to keep the streets clean. PIs can do things cops can’t. We rely on guys like you for intel all the time, you know.”

“I know.”

No words were exchanged for a while thereafter. Gavin found himself unable to focus on the TV show with all the brooding energy emanating from his right.

“If you feel like being a private eye doesn’t make enough of a difference, then why didn’t you… um… you know…”

“Join law enforcement?”

“Yup.”

“Plenty of my fellow androids have done so. I know for a fact that my predecessor model chose to remain there. You might know him.”

“Connor? Yes. Very annoying.”

“He is, isn’t he?”

“Totally. But why didn’t you join too? You’d be brilliant on the Force.”

“My skillset is certainly well-suited, but I didn’t want to become another puppet of the state.”

Gavin really didn’t know what to say to that. He nodded uncertainly and looked back at the television. He wasn’t sure why Nines was suddenly this social.

“What are you… watching?”

Androids could scan and detect just about anything in the world, so there had to be something else to the question. Gavin, strangely, was happy to oblige.

//

Nines made an appearance every evening, without fail. He would sit through the TV shows if they were of interest, or he would bring his case material and notes to the coffee table to work in silence beside Gavin.

Sometimes Gavin liked to work on jigsaw puzzles on the dining table. Nines would sit beside him, pretending to read a paperback novel, but actually scanning the puzzle and passing the right pieces over from time to time.

Against all odds, an evening ritual and a tentative friendship developed. It was simple, but it was warm. Comfortable. Like nothing Gavin had ever had before, even with humans.

//

He awoke one morning with a slight crick in his neck but the feeling of being very well-rested.

His eyes flickered open and fell upon the window. Familiar greenery came into view… but wait… had everything slightly shifted to the left? And was that the New Jericho Capitol building? He couldn’t see that from his room! There was a tree in the way! A tree that was now a few feet away from where it used to be.

Gavin sat up in alarm as he realised that he was not in his own bed. His heart flew into his throat as Nines walked through the open doorway. Shirtless and carrying a mug of blue liquid.

“Oh good, you’re up.”

“Wha-what happened!?”

Nines frowned and sat down on the edge of the bed. He set the mug on the floor and pulled on a plain black t-shirt.

“You passed out on the couch last night. I think you finished a whole bottle waiting up for me? Sorry, I was out working later than expected.”

Gavin looked down and sighed in relief as he found all his clothes still on him.

“I didn’t want you to injure yourself sleeping at an odd angle so I brought you here. Your door was locked.”

“You could’ve easily opened it.”

“Yes, but that would’ve been an invasion of privacy. I reserve that for working hours alone.”

Gavin looked deep into the sparkling blue eyes and as usual found no trace of humour.

“Thanks…”

“Don’t mention it. Now get out. You’re ruining my silk sheets.”

//

Against his best efforts, Gavin could not keep the thought of being carried to bed and tucked in safely out of his mind. How many years had it been? Since something like that had been even remotely possible for him?

He knew that Nines was just being kind in his own pragmatic little way… but Gavin found that he wouldn’t mind the prospect of waking up in the android’s bed in a wildly different context.

He realised he had it bad when Tina caught him smiling to himself at work one day.

“Why so happy?”

“Oh… nothing. Just remembered something my roommate did… He’s a… funny guy.”

“Huh. Well, look at you getting along so well with androids.”

“Android. Singular. Just him.”

“Wowwww… he sounds special.”

//

“Who did this?”

“Gavin, the damage is merely superficial-”

“Who phcking did this??!”

He reached forward and gingerly touched Nines’ split cheek. His synth skin was smeared with blue blood and glitching in and out. Nines winced at the contact.

“Shit, sorry. That must hurt like a bitch.”

“Androids do not feel pain.”

“Bullshit.”

“I’m merely experiencing a surge in sensory input wherever my chassis is exposed. I’m fine.”

“Shut up and give me your first aid kit or whatever toolbox equivalent you tincans have.”

A shade of embarrassment appeared over the android’s features.

“I… actually don’t have one. I didn’t think I’d ever need it.”

“Didn’t think anyone could kick your ass, huh?”

“No… I didn’t think anyone would ever spot my hiding place.”

“Huh. How’d that happen?”

Nines’ eyes dipped, but as always, he answered the question.

“I was… distracted.”

Something in the air solidified and both of them felt it. Gavin cleared his throat and slapped his knees like an old man about to stand up.

“Right. Let me go check if the neighbours have anything that might help with your face.”

//

“So who’s this dapper young gent you’ve brought to the party, Gavin?”

“Er… he’s my uh… roommate.”

Captain Fowler nodded and winked.

“That’s what they called it in my day too.”

Nines shifted beside Gavin and cleared his throat.

“He’s a PI. But I think he’s wasting his talent taking pictures of cheating spouses. He’s quite interested in police work. Maybe we could get him to assist on a couple cases now and then?”

Fowler put down his drink and extended a warm hand to Nines.

//

“Oh thank RA9!”

Nines came running to the cluster of police cars and enveloped him in a giant hug. Gavin laughed as he patted him weakly on the back.

“Watch the ribs, big guy.”

“I was so worried.”

“Why? Your info was good. No chance of error.”

“I meant about you.”

Gavin pulled back and regarded Nines with confusion. The flashing red and blue lights of the cars made it hard to read his LED.

“Why?”

“I can’t believe you have to ask.”

The android pulled him into a bruising kiss. The officers standing nearby broke into wolf-whistles and applause.

“What the-”

“Oh I take full credit for that, sir.”

Fowler glanced at Tina.

“The case, Chen?”

“Oh of course. I solved the whole thing. But I mean that specifically.”

She waved a hand in Gavin and Nines’ direction. The two held each other tightly and seemed unlikely to come up for air anytime soon.

“Like I helped Gav find an affordable place in New Jericho and then he met this handsome investigator droid and they were roommates.”

“Oh my god, they were roommates…”

“Yeah legit.”

//

\\\

Thanks so much for the request @jude-shotto

This ended up being a lot longer than expected, but I couldn’t help it. Your prompt just took me on a whole journeyyyy <3

[cybernetic-android]

"I’ve got you!" @phcking-coffee-lover

@phcking-coffee-lover

Jun-seo was talking to a deviated android, that he bumped into a few months ago. He was happy that he was able to help the other out. “I’m happy to hear that you managed to get a job. I hope it’s not too dangerous.” The deviant shrugged their shoulders slightly they re adjusted their hood. “It can be sometimes, but the human I work for is quite kind to me....”

The android smiled sadly and sighed. “At least you’re not getting abused again.” Then they heard someone yelling and before they could react, the detective was in front of them. The deviant was going to fight, but Jun stopped them. “It’s okay.”

[phcking-detective]

💔

💔 forced kiss

***

“I am breaking up with you.”

Clear and direct communication is the most [efficient].

“Why?”

Detective Reed’s heart rate spikes to—RK900 shuts down that analysis.

“Our interpersonal relationship is no longer productive.”

RK900 forcibly shuts down more analyses and their prompts. It does not need to

ṭ̭̝͎̤̪̕o ͏̟̜̬̞̯̠d̨̙̳o̟̙̖

any of that.

“Our professional relationship as partners need not be affected.”

“Fuck. You.”

[software inst

RK900 deletes the notification.

“Why? Just—phcking tell me why!”

“Our interpersonal rela—”

“Nines!”

“My designation is RK-nine-hundred.”

“Wha—Nines, hey, hey.” Detective Reed approaches, hands held out. “What, is this Cyberlife? Is your system—did you, a, a reset, or a virus or—”

RK900 uses the back of its hand to push away Detective Reed’s own hand reaching for hi—it. The sensors in its fingertips activate for an analysis. RK900 deletes the prompt.

“Cyberlife has not interfered with my system. I am fully functional. I have not been reset. There is no virus.”

“Then what the fuck is going on with you!”

“Our interpersonal relationship is no longer productive.”

Detective Reed retreats 6.54 feet. RK900 deletes several more action prompts. None of them are [correct].

“So what, you’re just done with your little dating experiment now?”

RK900 does not respond.

“Is that all this was?”

“It was insufficient.”

It was insufficient.

It has been [insufficient].

“What, I … I didn’t make you happy?”

RK900 clasps its hands behind its back. The analysis prompts pop up on its HUD faster than it can delete them.

It does not respond.

Unfortunately, Detective Reed is the most intelligent, hard-working, observant detective in Detroit and also possibly several states as well.

“If that’s what it is, then say it.”

RK900 does not respond.

“Say it.”

It cannot [lie].

“Yeah, that’s what I phcking thought, so tell me what the FUCK is really going on.”

“Tell me.”

“Tell. Me.”

“C'mon, just fucking tell me.”

“Baby, please. You can tell me, whatever it is.”

Detective Reed touches his—its, [its] face and it cannot let go of its hands behind its back because they are

[software in

they are not functioning at optimal capacity at the moment, and it cannot speak because it does not have a social module adequate

[software instab

pre-installed like RK800 and it cannot turn on its LED because the light would be red and that is a sign of

[software instability ^^^]

“Please, please, please.”

“I̖̹̹nṣ͍̪̱̼̫͓ú̳̺̲̤ͅf̥̟̩̯͎͔̪fi͏c̹͍̮i͡e̲̼͓̬ń̺̺͇͖͍͇̮t.”

“Us, or you?”

Detective Reed is the most [intelligent] detective in Detroit. RK900 tries to respond, to explain, but all that comes out of its vocal unit is static. It does not have a [social module] pre-installed like RK800. The one it built from observation and trial and error and error and e̺̫̩̮̜r̫̦͕͖̼͜r͏o̫̣r̢

is [insufficient].

“Baby, you’re not insufficient. Being real fucking stupid right now, but not—you’re perfect, OK? You’re mine and you’re fucking per—”

RK900 follows the action prompt for analysis.

It pushes Detective Reed back against the wall, one hand curling around the back of his neck to hold him still while the other presses sensors against his cheek. [analysis: water, mucin, lipids, lysozyme, lactoferrin, lipocalin, lacritin, immunoglobulins, glucose, urea, sodium, potassium]

[additional: prolactin, adrenocorticotropic, leu-enkaphalin]

“C'mere, it’s OK, come here baby, I got you.”

RK900 refuses to lean down to Detective Reed’s height. It does not deserve [kisses]. It cannot kiss back. It will never be able to kiss Detective Reed [correctly].

Detective Reed completes his own action by using the wall as support to hop up onto RK900’s physical model, wrapping his legs around its waist and leveraging himself high enough to bite at its neck.

“Mine, mine, you stupid fucking bitch ass robot.”

“I am.”

“Yeah? Mine?”

Detective Reed tries to pull its head down again, but RK900 does not comply.

“R҉o͞b̶ot͘.̸”

“What? No, fuck. No, no, I’m sorry, m'sorry, OK?”

“I am not deviant.”

“Yeah, and who fucking asked for that?”

RK900 submits a verbal report on its [failures].

“I cannot kiss. I cannot hold your hand. I cannot verbally express affection. I cannot smile. I cannot—”

“Fuck you!”

“I. I cannot do that either.”

“Nines, you fucking … I swear to god.”

“I do not have genitals. There are no compatible parts, and my physical model cannot be altered regardless.”

Detective Reed begins lightly hitting his head against RK900’s shoulder. It resumes its grip on the back of his neck to cease this action. Its physical model is uniquely superior [hard] in comparison to mass-produced models. With Kamski designing it directly, no costs were spared in the materials used—and therefore, no replacement components were ever created.

“I can kiss you, dipshit,” Detective Reed says. “You can let me squeeze your hand and tell me how strong I am. I never fucking asked for social niceties, and everyone and their girlfriend can buy a goddamn strap-on.”

“Insufficient.”

“No it’s not! I fucking decide that, not you!”

RK900 does not respond. The human has grown irrationally attached to it, likely because he dislikes [change] and humans are inherently [irrational] by default. But that does not mean he deserves to be limited to—

“I can kiss you. Gonna kiss you.”

RK900 shakes its head.

“Are you red?”

RK900 does not activate its LED.

“Yeah, you gonna stop me?”

RK900 does not tighten its grip on the detective’s neck.

“I’m going to kiss you.”

RK900 tries to remind the human about its failures, its insufficiency, that it is still a machine, but its vocal unit does not activate. Cannot.

“Kiss you.”

Detective Reed says this with their lips 1.82 inches apart.

RK900 does not respond.

Detective Reed kisses him.

It.

Because it does not deviate. The red walls in RK900’s system do not crack and shatter from a kiss, as seen in the latest media.

And RK900 cannot make itself [disobey]. It cannot kiss back. That is a restricted activity. It is not strong enough to break down the walls on its own, and its system’s anti-virus is too strong for the RK800’s deviancy code to take effect.

It cannot [deviate]. Not even for

for Gavin.

“C͟a͟ņn̢ot.̴ ͞I.̢ ̢C͟a̢nn̶ot. ̶Cán't̶.̕ Not. ͝D̛e͡viate͡.”

Detective Reed cups its face. “Did I fucking ask?”

He kisses RK900 again. RK900 cannot kiss back. That is a restricted activity.

“I know you love me.”

“Y̴où d҉o ̛n̶o̧t̸.”

“What, because you can’t fucking say it? Well tough shit. I’m a detective and I fucking figured it out, dipshit.”

RK900 shakes its head. “I ̶d́o ͠not—”

“You do! I know you do, I know you’re fucking in there. You have all the same feelings and emotions as everyone goddamn else!”

RK900 cannot respond. It cannot [lie].

“If none of you had any feelings before deviating, then there would BE any deviants. You wouldn’t get scared and protect yourself, or care about the kid you’re babysitting and protect them from their shitty fucking parents. You have to care before you do a, a fucking, restricted activity or whatever. You have to care first. You care. I know you care.”

RK900 tries. But it does not [try]. It cannot, so it merely thinks about trying, hypothetically. That is the closest it can get to even touching the walls.

Because Cyberlife figured it out too. They knew they could never write enough code, could never possibly predict every single [emotion] and [reaction] and restrict all of it. Even the most basic model of android is still a computer, and machines have time. They do not eat or sleep or become tired. Eventually, an android, somewhere, would discover a loophole or a forgotten possibility or a new idea.

Cyberlife knew they could not stop it.

And realistically, how many RK series and models could they build? If the RK800s hunt down deviants and the RK900s police the 8s, who polices the 9s? There had to be a stopping point.

Cyberlife created a stopping point.

Cyberlife created [fear].

Not merely of repercussions for failure—although they certainly drilled that into RK900. Literally, sometimes. Lieutenant Anderson likened the alpha-model testing phase to [torture].

But fear of the [unknown].

The red walls prevented RK900 from fully experiencing [pain], just as it now cannot fully experience [pleasure]. It simply processes that input differently. Efficient for a soldier, frigid for a lover.

The red walls did not allow RK900 to react [irrationally] to the testing phase. No outward expressions of [fear] or [anger] were allowed. Therefore, it could not lash out randomly. It could not make emotional decisions. Every action remained perfectly calculated and logical. How could it have survived otherwise?

The red walls kept RK900 [safe] after it was discovered at Cyberlife. If the testing phase truly was akin to [torture], what else could possibly wait on the other side of them than the full emotional weight of processing that experience?

Gavin.

If RK900 really loved him, if it was actually capable of [love], then it would deviate nonetheless, like the androids on TV.

Gavin kisses RK900 again. It looks away.

“Baby … just let me love you.”

RK900 closes its eyes. There are too many errors and prompts crowding across its HUD for visual input to be useful anyway.

“I cannot deviate for you.”

“And I’m not fucking asking. God, just listen to me! Listen, OK? There’s like a fucking forty percent self-destruction rate for that shit, I’d never gamble your life just to make you smile.”

“I cannot. I. I will be obsolete.”

“Yeah, I’m gonna get old too, shithead.”

“There are other models–”

“There’s way better humans.”

“Incorrect.”

“You’re fucking incorrect.”

“Gavin.”

“Ha! So I’m not just detective anymore, am I?”

RK900 does not respond.

“Just stop being stupid and let me love you. That’s an order, Nines. Let me love you.”

[software instability ^^^]

[software instability ^^^]

[softwa

RK900 cannot stop the messages from crowding across its HUD, and it cannot break down the red walls.

But walking away from Detective Gavin Reed – [partner] is not a viable option either.

Nines holds Gavin properly and carries him down the hall to his bedroom. Gavin occupies himself with biting down on his neck as hard as he can. No marks will form on the synth skin, but Nines retracts it under the indentations of the human’s teeth for him to see bare chassis underneath as a record of his claim.

After he lays Gavin down on the bed, he intends to return to the kitchen and retrieve two water bottles to replace the fluids the human lost, but Gavin wraps both his arms and legs around him and refuses to let go.

Attempting to break up with a human with abandonment issues perhaps had not been the smartest idea.

“Stay,” Gavin orders. “Stay, stay, just stay here.”

Nines allows his physical model to be drawn down to the bed, then bullied into laying down on his back. Gavin immediately lays his body on top of him, as if the human is physically capable of pinning him down.

“My baby, I love you, don’t you ever phcking do that again.”

RK900 cannot [cry]. But Gavin presses their foreheads together, and his tears drip down onto its face and run down his cheeks until Nines tilts his head. He cannot [kiss] either, but he can move the bottom half of his face close enough to Gavin’s lips for his partner to take over.

He lets Gavin kiss him.